Nigeria, Benin Move to Close Systems Gap at Seme-Krake Border
Kathy Kyari
The Customs administrations of Nigeria and Benin Republic have moved to close the systems gap at the Sèmè–Kraké border, with plans to establish real-time data exchange between both countries as part of efforts to strengthen the One-Stop Border Post and facilitate seamless regional trade.
The initiative was unveiled on Friday during a joint assessment of the One-Stop Border Post at Seme-Krake border town, where both administrations reviewed operational readiness, border processes and facilities, while exploring ways to harmonise procedures, reduce trade barriers and improve the movement of legitimate goods and services across the two countries.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, said the assessment was designed to review the operational readiness of the border, observe existing processes and demonstrate the Border Modernisation solution supporting secure cross-border interoperability between Nigeria and Benin Republic.
Adeniyi said the initiative was particularly important given the strategic position of Sèmè–Kraké on the Abidjan–Lagos Corridor, which he described as one of the busiest trade routes in West Africa.
He said the corridor carries about 70 per cent of the sub-region’s transit trade, stressing that the efficiency of the border has significant implications for regional commerce and the cost of goods.
“Every hour lost at this gate is multiplied across thousands of consignments and tens of thousands of travellers, and is paid for in the price of goods in markets from Cotonou to Lagos. Conversely, an hour saved here is saved for the whole region. There are few places on this continent where the ratio between effort and effect is as favourable as it is at this crossing.”
The Customs boss noted that although the Nigerian and Beninese administrations operate under one roof at the border, the absence of a unified system continues to limit the seamless exchange of critical trade and enforcement information.
“Two administrations presently work under one roof, but they do not work on one system. There is still no seamless real-time exchange of declarations, manifests, transit information, risk profiles or enforcement alerts between us.”
According to him, the Nigeria Customs Service is working to address the challenge through an interconnection of both administrations, supported by a common data exchange arrangement.
“That is why the Nigeria Customs Service has come to Sèmè–Kraké with a specific offer. We are here to close the systems gap. Work is under way on the interconnection of our two administrations through a common data exchange arrangement, building on the regional transit experience we have both gained, so that a declaration lodged on one side is visible on the other in real time, so that transit can be tracked from origin to destination, and so that a risk profile or an enforcement alert raised by one administration reaches the other while it is still useful.” He said
Adeniyi further drew attention to the role of women in informal cross-border trade, stressing the need for border reforms to address the realities of the majority of traders who depend on the corridor.
“I want to turn now to a group of people who are easy to overlook at a ceremony of this kind, and who are the majority of those who actually use this border. Across Africa, women make up more than 70 per cent of those engaged in informal cross-border trade.”
He added: “On this corridor the pattern is pronounced. Some 22 per cent of Benin’s informal exports are destined for Nigeria. Informal trade is estimated to account for a fifth of economic activity in Nigeria and a far higher share in Benin.”
The NCS boss commended the Customs administration of Benin Republic for the trust and confidence it has placed in the leadership of Nigeria Customs Service to drive the One-Stop Border Post initiative.
He said the collaboration would help strengthen regional economic integration and improve the efficiency of legitimate trade between both countries.
Similarly, the Director-General of Benin Customs, Raouf Malehossou, commended Nigeria for the initiative, describing the integration of trade within the sub-region as critical to economic growth.
The joint assessment is expected to further strengthen cooperation between both administrations and support the development of a more efficient, secure and interconnected border management system along the Abidjan–Lagos Corridor.
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